Clamping and supporting means.



J. O. CASADAY.

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CLAMPING AND SUPPORTING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.23.1913.

1 146,7 50. Patented July 13, 1915.

3 SHETS-$HEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANuaRAPI-I C-,WASHINGTON D c J. 0. CASADAY.

CLAMPING AND SUPPORTING MEANS.

Patented July 13, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 APPLICATION FILED AUG.23. 1913.

JAMES OLIVER CASADAY, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

' CLAMPING AND SUPPORTING MEANS.

Application filed August 23, 1913.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JAMES OLIVER Casa- DAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Clamping and Supporting Means; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to clamping and supporting means and more particularly to a clamping and supporting device adapted for use in engaging the driving and centering mechanism for boiler tube cleaners in operative relation with the boiler tube to be cleaned.

In the various types of rotative boiler tube cleaners in which anydriving mechanism is employed, in connection therewith, it has been difiicult heretofore to so support the driving means with reference to the boiler tube as to insure the-axial alinement at all times of the shaft driving cleaner. Inasmuch as boiler scale is frequently very hard and resisting, the driving shaft, if not supported axially in the tube, is subjected to unnecessarily great stress, and may be sprung or even broken. Furthermore, it is important that the driving shaft for the tool be at all times supported at the axis of the tube to properly direct the tool, inasmuch as boiler cleaning tools sometimes may possibly injure the tube.

It is also an object of the invention to afford a construction which not only centers the shaft in the tube, but which'as well permits the water or steam to be delivered into the tube to assist in washing the same and removing the loosened scale. I It is also an object of the invention to afford an exceedingly cheap, simple and positively acting device of the class described, adapted for quick [engagement and release from the header, and which automatically centers the shaft in the tube. v

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appendedclaims- In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section and partly broken away, of a water tube boiler and illustrat Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

Serial No. 786,235.

ing the operationof a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a device embodying my invention with the motor attached. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. lis an enlarged section on line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 5--5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 3 and illustrates the manner in which the cleaner head is secured in the driving shaft. Fig.8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 3, and illustrates the manner in whichthe shaft sections are secured together. Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 1010 of Fig. 8.

As shown in the drawings: 1, indicates the outer wall of the header of the boiler and 2, indicates the boiler tube opening into said header.

3, indicates the motor for driving the cleaner shaft, and which may be of any desired kind, although the motor shown'is of a rotary engine.

Connected integrally with the cylinder or casing of the engine, and extending upwardly therefrom and affording the support therefor, is a tubular frame or bracket 4. A spur gear is provided on the engine shaft 6, which drives a gear 7, the hub 8, of which, is longitudinally extended to the other end of said bracket and is provided with longitudinal ribs 9, which extend the length of the inner side thereof. Fitted on said hub 8, is a brass or other anti-friction sleeve 10. Said'bracket or sleeve 1, at its ends fits closely on said bushing or sleeve 10, and is of greater internal diameter than said sleeve to afford a water chamber 11, for substantially the entire length of said bracket. Threaded on the inner end of said bracket is a hollow conical stopper or plug 12, and communicating through passages with the water chamber in said bracket, and as shown, apertures 12 are provided in the inner face of said plug to permit the water or stream to be delivered therethrough into the tube, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. For the purpose of clamping the device thus described in operative relation in the tube, a powerful clamp is provided comprising a ring 13, peripherally grooved. on'its outer side and engaged therewith and'slidable on the tapered face of said bracket 4. Within the header, are wedge blocks 14 each header.

of which, as shown, is provided with a T head 15, adapted to engage in a suitable seat in said ring 13, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and upon which is engageda spring 16', at

all times pressed upon said clamping jaw' by means of a plate 17, secured onsaid ring, as shown in Fig. 5, and which acts tohold said clamping jaw in operative relation. As shown, threeof said jaws are provided arranged equal distances apart about said tapered end of the bracket, thereby affording a three point engagement within the Journaled on stud shafts (not shown) on opposite sides of said bracket and near the middle thereof, are spur gears 18. ,SGOllIQd co-axially therewith and if preferred integrally, are outwardly facing bevel gears 19. Cover plates or housings 20, are secured on said brackets to cover and inclose said gears, each of which, as shown, is provided with an integral housing or casing 21, to receive a bevel gear 22, which meshes with the bevel gear 19, before described. Said bevel gear 22, is threaded on a screw shaft 23, which extends rearwardly or toward the header end of the tool and is provided with a rectangular head 24, which fits in a suitable guide-way 25, integral with the bracket, one, on each side thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. Said head is hooked at its extremity to engage in the peripheral groove in the clamping ring 13.

Journaled in the cover plates 20, transversely of the bracket, is a rotatable tubular shaft 26, provided with a gear 27, at each end thereof, which meshes with the spur gear 18.. shaft 26, is shapedto receive a key 28,.therein, whereby both the gears may be simultaneously rotated in either direction, thereby rotating the bevel pinion or gear on the screw shafts 22, to shift the clamping ring. Owing to the taper at the rear or header end of the bracket, said clamping ring, when shifted in one direction, acts to draw the clamping jaws into positive engagement with the header, and when shifted in the opposite direction, acts to release the same therefrom.

As shown, the casing or housing 21, in which the bevel gear 22, is contained, is shaped to afford a bearing 30, forthe screw shaft at its extremity, thus enabling consid erable stress to be applied in drawing the clamping jaws into binding engagement with the outer wall of the header. I s

The shaft 31 is made up of a plurality of sections 31 and 31*, which are provided on their ends with interfitting members 32 and 33," which are secured thereto by pins 34; As shown in Fig. 8, the member 32, is provided with a slot 35, in which a dog or V pawl 36, is pivoted on a pin 37, in such a manner that the end 38, thereof will be forced by the spring 39, inwardly to en- As shown, the bore through said gage the shoulder 40, adjacent the tapered end 41, of the shaft section 31 As shown in Fig. 8, the member 32, on the section 31 is provided with an angular projection 42, adapted to inter-fit within a complemental recess 43, in. the corresponding member 33, and the shaft sections are rigidly secured together by means of the spring pressed pawl 36, on the member 32, which engages the shoulder on the end of the shaft section 31 As shown in Fig. 3, a cleaner head 44, having scraping members 45, secured thereon is rigidly secured on a shaft 31. A sleeve 46, is secured on the opposite end of said shaft and extends outwardly therefrom in position to receive the end of the shaft 31 and with the projecting end 47, thereof inter-fitting the complemental recess in the member 33. The sleeve member 46, and ends of said shafts 31 and 31, are correspondinglybored and a U shaped bolt 48, extends therethrough and is held in position by means of a spring 49, engaged on a pin 50, connected to the center of said U bolt and extending between the shafts 31,

and 31, to near the outer surface of the sleeve 46.

The operation is as follows: In attaching the tool to the header, after the removal of the hand hole plate, the tool is inserted into the tube and the stopper 12, forced into the end of the tube, the taper or draw on said stopper or plug serving to effectually close the tube. The clamping jaws are now in position to engage the outer wall of the header. A key complemental with the bore in the shaft 26, (which may be angular or provided with a keyway or rib to fit in a suitable groove in said shaft or in any suitable manner shaped to engage to rotate the same) is inserted into place and the gears are rotated, thereby drawing the clamping ring 13, away from the header, thereby drawing the clamping jaws up the incline thetool and driving means in place, the engine is started to rotate the tool and a jet of water or steam (and'ifpreferred, the exhaust steam from, the engine) is delivered through the water or steam chamber in said bracket and thence through the plug or stopper into the tool. This serves as a solvent to'remove the scale and also acts to wash away the material as fast as broken from the tube by the tool. 7

' Obviously motors of anykind may be employed for the purpose, and a clamping device such as described may beemployed with any kind of tube cleaning devices. I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent otherwise than necessitated by the prior art, as numerous details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A supporting and driving mechanism for boiler tube cleaners embracing a motor, the cleaning tool and the actuating shaft therefor, operative connections between the shaft and the motor for driving the same, a clamp comprising jaws slidable on the motor frame, a ring to which the jaws are secured, and actuating means connected with said ring and acting to shift the jaws to wedgingly engage inthe header of the boiler.

2. In a machine of the class described the motor, a tubular motor frame or bracket thereon, a rotatable sleeve extending through said frame and affording a water and steam chamber between the same in the frame, a hollow plug on the end of said bracket and communicating with said chamher and perforated to discharge into the tube and a centering clamp comprising aws slidably engaged on the bracket and acting to wedgingly engage in the hand hole aperture in the header to centralize and support said bracket and the driving means for the shaft and tool.

3. A clamp of the class described embracing a tapered tubular bracket affording a steam and water chamber and adapted to be inserted at one end through the outer shell of the header, a tapered hollon plug on said end to close the tube, centering and clamping jaws slidable on the tapered end of the bracket, actuating means therefor embracing threaded shafts yieldingly connected with said jaws and extending along each side of the bracket, nuts thereon hearing against a fixed member on the bracket and rotative means for rotating said nuts to shift said jaws inwardly and outwardly.

4. A clamp of the class described embracing the conically tapered tubular bracket, clamping jaws slidable thereon to engage and disengage the header, a ring to which said jaws are yieldingly engaged, threaded actuating bolts on each side the bracket and positively connected with said ring, a nut on each, gear teeth on each nut, and one or more pinions acting to simultaneously rotate said nuts to shift the jaws inwardly and outwardly.

5. A clamp of the class described embracing the conically tapered tubular bracket, clamping jaws slidable on the ta pered end thereof to engage and disengage the header, threaded actuating bolts on each side the bracket and connected with said jaws, nuts on each bolt, gear teeth on each nut, a train of gears for rotating each nut and connected pinions for simultaneously driving both trains to shift the jaws inwardly and outwardly.

6. The combination with a motor and a tubular bracket affording the support therefor and through which the driven shaft 'eX- tends, of a plug or centering member on the inner end of said bracket, centering and clamping jaws slidable on said end of the bracket to wedgingly engage in the hand hole aperture of the header shell, a ring slidable on the bracket and to which said jaws are yieldingly engaged, means engaging said ring to shift the same on the bracket, and rotative means actuating the same.

7. The combination with a motor and a tubular bracket affording the support therefor and through which the driven. shaft extends, of a plug or centering member on the inner end of said bracket, said bracket and plug having passages therein to admit a fluid into the tube operated on, clamping jaws slidable on said end of the bracket to wedgingly engage the aperture in the header shell corresponding with the tube, a ring slidable on the bracket and with which said jaws are yieldingly engaged, meansengaging said ring to shift the same on the bracket, and rotative means actuating the same.

8. In a device of the class described the motor,-the tubular bracket tapered at one end, and cored internally, a gear at the outer end of the bracket, an elongated hub on the gear extending through and fitting in said bracket and aflording the inner wall of a water chamber, a hollow plug on the tapered end of the bracket communicating with the water chamber in the bracket and perforated to discharge into boiler tube, a spur gear journaled'on each side the bracket, a bevel gear integral therewith, threaded bolts slidable in parallel relation on each side the bracket, a bevel gear threaded on each bolt and meshing with the first named bevel gear, a clamping ring engaged by said bolts and slidable on the bracket, clamping jaws slidable on the tapered end of the bracket to wedgingly engage in the aperture in the header corresponding with the tube operated on, and a spring engaged on each jaw and acting to hold the same on the bracket and a rigid stop behind each of said nuts.

9. In a device of the class described the motor, the tubular bracket tapered at one end, and cored internally to afford a water chamber, a gear at the outer end of the bracket, an elongated hub on the gear extending through and fitting in said bracket and affording the inner wall of the water chamber, a tapered hollow plug on the tapered end of the bracket and apertured to communicate with the water chamber in the bracket and to discharge into the boiler tube, a spur gear journaled on each side the bracket, a coaxial bevel gear integral therewith, threaded bolts slidable in parallel relation on each side the bracket, a bevel gear threaded on each bolt and meshing with the first named bevel gear, a clamping ring engaged by said bolts and slidable on the bracket, centering clamping jaws connected with said ring and slidable therewith on the tapered end of thebracket to wedgingly engage in the hand hole in the header, a spring engaged on each jaw and acting to hold the same down on the taper of the bracket, and connected pinions for driving both said spur gears simultaneously.

10. A supporting device for boiler tube cleaners embracing a clamping ring, clamping aws comprising a plurality of wedge block members each, of which is provided with a T head adapted to engage in a seat in the ring, means engagedupon said ring acting at all times to press upon said clamping jaws, a plate member secured on said ring over said means acting to hold said clamping jaws in operative relation, a plurality of threaded actuating screw shafts connected with said ring, a nut on each, and a train of gear wheels for rotating each nut to shift said jaws inwardly and outwardly. 11. A supporting and clamping device for boiler tube cleaners embracing the motor, a

tapered tubular bracket connected to the motor frame, a sectional shaft in said frame, a spur gear on one end thereof meshing with the gear wheel on the motor shaft to drive the shaft, an elongated hub on the gear extending through and fitting in said bracket, a plurality of longitudinal ribs formed integral with and disposed on the inner side of the hub, a clamp comprising jaws slidably secured on the tubular frame, a plug secured on the frame and a plurality of intermeshing gear wheels for actuating said clamp to wedgingly draw said jaws into positive engagement with the shell of a boiler header and to force said plug sealingly into the tube to be cleaned.

12. In a device of the class described a motor,a bracket tapered at one end, a tapered sectional shaft journaled therein, a spur gear at the outer end thereof connecting the motor with the shaft, a pair of interfitting sleeve members secured on the ends of the shaft sections, one of said members provided with a slot therein, a spring pressed pawl pivoted in the slot to engage the shoulder adjacent the tapered end of the shaft sections to rigidly secure the shaft sections together, another sleeve member adapted to receive the bored ends of certain sections of said shaft therein, a U-shaped bolt member adapted to extend through the bored ends of the certain shaft sections to connect the same together, and resilient means to hold said bolt into engagement with the shaft sections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES OLIVER OASADAY.

Witnesses:

LAWRENCE REIBSTEIN, LEON M. RnIBsTnIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

